LiDAR Signal Processing Device Vertical Resolution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional LiDAR systems face challenges in improving vertical resolution while maintaining manufacturing costs and performance, particularly in vehicle-mounted applications where high vertical resolution is crucial for forward monitoring.
Innovation Solution
The LiDAR system employs a signal processing device that alternates between two input groups to switch combinations of sub-pixels for distance calculations, effectively increasing vertical pixel count without increasing channel count, and uses an averaging process to enhance resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the number of diodes per channel is increased to improve vertical resolution, then measurement precision improves, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sensor array into multiple sub-pixels arranged in groups along the vertical direction. By segmenting the pixel structure and processing sub-pixels in groups rather than individually, the system achieves improved vertical resolution without proportionally increasing the number of diodes per channel, thus controlling manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines signals from multiple sub-pixels within the same channel into a single output signal. By merging the signals from sub-pixels that share the same channel, the system maintains a lower number of diodes per channel while still achieving improved vertical resolution through the combined signal processing of multiple sub-pixels.
2Measurement precision
If the channel count is increased to improve vertical resolution, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sensor array into sub-pixels that are grouped and processed together. By organizing sub-pixels into groups that share common readout circuits and processing paths, the system achieves improved vertical resolution without increasing the channel count, thereby reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal processing approach where multiple sub-pixels within the same channel share common readout and processing resources. This multi-functional design allows the system to achieve high vertical resolution without requiring separate dedicated channels for each sub-pixel, thus avoiding increased device complexity.
3Device complexity
If signal processing is simplified to reduce device complexity, then ease of manufacture improves, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the signal processing into two stages: first, combining signals from multiple sub-pixels within the same channel; second, processing the combined signals to extract distance information. This segmented processing approach maintains relatively simple processing within each channel while achieving improved vertical resolution through the multi-sub-pixel combination, thus avoiding overly complex processing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for improved vertical resolution and performance while keeping manufacturing costs low by maintaining the number of diodes per channel and avoiding reductions in signal-to-noise ratio and dynamic range.
Implementation Method 1
A LiDAR irradiates a target object with laser light and detects the intensity of reflected light reflected from the target object by a sensor (light detector)
Data Source
AI summary
A signal processing device according to an embodiment includes input ends, first to Nth output ends, and a control circuit. The input ends respectively input signals. The first to Nth output ends are respectively associated with first to Nth groups (N is an integer of not less than two). Each of the first to Nth groups includes M (M is an integer of not less than two) consecutive input ends. The control circuit output, to the kth output end, a signal based on a signal obtained by adding signals respectively input to the M consecutive input ends of the kth group (k an integer of not less than 1 and not more than N). The control circuit switches combinations of input ends as the M input ends to set different combinations at the first setting to the Mth setting.